Who We Are — Building bright futures by lifting children out of poverty

Mission

Children of Vietnam lifts children out of poverty by eliminating barriers to fulfilling their potential through wraparound services that focus on one child, one family, one community at a time.

Vision

As an organization, our vision is clear: a Vietnam in which all children flourish, reach their full potential, and contribute positively to society.

How We Started

In 1998, Ben Wilson saw the needs of poor children while working in Da Nang City and founded Children of Vietnam (COV) to meet their needs.

Ben Wilson rode a scooter through the streets of Da Nang and into the countryside, bringing aid to children and their families — food, shelter, medicine, and clothing — anything and everything a child might need. Brightening each child’s future remains our focus today.

Word of his life-changing scooter deliveries traveled fast through Da Nang, in central Vietnam. Families with children who needed help sought him out. Ben furiously worked to meet the demand. From the beginning, Ben believed in creating partnerships with the communities, finding the greatest needs, delivering aid quickly, and working to provide the support that sustained growth. These principles continue to guide us in our daily operations.

Meet The Team

United States Team

Giang Wells-Dang

Executive Director

Vietnam Team

Board of Directors

Social Equity Statement

We stand for: Equality. Dignity. Inclusion. Social Justice.
Boy Girl Friends in Arms Walking

We acknowledge the suffering of Black, Indigenous, Asian, Latin, and other minority communities. We value equity, dignity, inclusion, and social justice because they are central to our mission of lifting children out of poverty. We pledge to continue to be guided by these values in everything we do.

 Poverty does not just happen. It is not only a lack of income and resources. It consists of a lack of inclusive and equitable access to basic needs and opportunities to grow, develop, and follow dreams. Further, discrimination and inequality often coincide with poverty. Every child and adult regardless of race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, mental or physical abilities, or who they love deserves dignity.

We abhor the injustice inflicted, past and present, on the multitude of lives, including Black lives, caused by individual and systemic racism, discrimination, and exclusion.

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